A tiny shop located Etiler’s Uçaksavar neighborhood, Cafe Piccolo has already managed to become the “it” café, restaurant and all-around meeting spot on the block. The Sunday morning brunch (55 TL) is a huge hit. Simply hearing owner Cenk Nigdelioglu (who opened the restaurant with his wife, Gülgün) introducing the options on the menu whets our appetite, from hot-off-the- tava menemen to all sorts of cheeses, meats and more.
Piccolo places great emphasis on fresh and quality ingredients, and the lack of space in the eatery serves to reinforce this mindset. All of the cheeses and breads come from Eataly’s gourmet shop, while the jams are literally grandmother-made (you can even buy some if they’ve got extra on hand).
With room for only 9-10 patrons, the space is as cozy as it gets. There’s a set menu, but the desserts change each day. Piccolo’s specialty is the Eggs Benedict (24 TL), although they also serve burgers (20 TL), cheeseburgers (22 TL), salads and pastas. The eatery offers catering services for private parties held there, and we hear the walls (which currently display photographs taken by Gülgün) might soon showcase works from up-and-coming artists. Erçag Akın